Timeshare Game

On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 14:29:14 -0500, Old Sarge <vapr69m>
wrote:


>
>HOWEVER, after three trips, it gets old. Therefore we are banking our
>week and taking cruises instead. It all works out for us since we are
>both retired. But if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't buy a
>timeshare at all. There are many reasons and if anyone wants to know
>those reasons, just ask. You just keep paying, paying, paying, and
>paying. We paid cash straight out for the place so as not to get
>stuck with another bill. So, we own our week but we still have to pay
>almost $500 a year for maintenance fees and of course air travel to
>Cabo.
>
>Cabo isn't the cheapest place in Mexico to visit. It's on the scale
>of Seattle's prices.
>
>Cheers.

One of the most important considerations in, my opinion, is the cost
to get to where the time share is from where you live. If you have to
fly it needs to be affordable. If you can drive it may not be that
much of a true getaway to make it worthwhile unless it has good trade
potential. If you like Las Vegas, flying there can be relatively
inexpensive. Sure, you can get inexpensive hotels there, too, but you
get what you pay for. You also have no trouble finding people who
will more than cover the cost of the yearly maintenance costs to let
them use it, if you can't get away.

Las Vegas is also a great jumping off point for vacations that are
outside of town because of the cheap airfare. You can leave the
timeshare for a day or two and travel to Southern Utah to take in the
national parks, and when you return to the timeshare it almost feels
like you've come home.

This being a cruise forum, I do have to say that the main difference
between cruising and timeshares is the fact that you have a kitchen in
the time share. Some people consider this a blessing, others, like my
wife, consider it to be a sure sign they will be cooking and cleaning
somewhat while on vacation! Face it, the only true vacation for some
is a cruise! I do like having the fridge in the room and at least a
microwave for snacks. You can't do that on a cruise, but you do have
room service for only a tip!

We own two weeks of timeshare in Florida and have usually used them for a
week or two extension when we cruise out of Florida, or Caribbean ports.

I think, if we didn't have the timeshares, we would never have stayed in
places like Aruba, Puerto Rico, Marathon Keys, Cocoa Beach, Florida's Gulf
Coast etc.

Even though it costs slightly more (in maintenance and exchange fees) than a
cheap motel, there is the convenience of real bedroom(s) and a full kitchen,
and it costs far less than a resort hotel.

Tobie>>>>on an Island in the Pacific

"Russell Patterson" <me@> wrote in message
news:fnoul19kodnt5n9d4ti73fk7rfpfl4mq7o@...
> On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 14:29:14 -0500, Old Sarge <vapr69m>
> wrote:
>
>
>>
>>HOWEVER, after three trips, it gets old. Therefore we are banking our
>>week and taking cruises instead. It all works out for us since we are
>>both retired. But if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't buy a
>>timeshare at all. There are many reasons and if anyone wants to know
>>those reasons, just ask. You just keep paying, paying, paying, and
>>paying. We paid cash straight out for the place so as not to get
>>stuck with another bill. So, we own our week but we still have to pay
>>almost $500 a year for maintenance fees and of course air travel to
>>Cabo.
>>
>>Cabo isn't the cheapest place in Mexico to visit. It's on the scale
>>of Seattle's prices.
>>
>>Cheers.
>
> One of the most important considerations in, my opinion, is the cost
> to get to where the time share is from where you live. If you have to
> fly it needs to be affordable. If you can drive it may not be that
> much of a true getaway to make it worthwhile unless it has good trade
> potential. If you like Las Vegas, flying there can be relatively
> inexpensive. Sure, you can get inexpensive hotels there, too, but you
> get what you pay for. You also have no trouble finding people who
> will more than cover the cost of the yearly maintenance costs to let
> them use it, if you can't get away.
>
> Las Vegas is also a great jumping off point for vacations that are
> outside of town because of the cheap airfare. You can leave the
> timeshare for a day or two and travel to Southern Utah to take in the
> national parks, and when you return to the timeshare it almost feels
> like you've come home.
>
> This being a cruise forum, I do have to say that the main difference
> between cruising and timeshares is the fact that you have a kitchen in
> the time share. Some people consider this a blessing, others, like my
> wife, consider it to be a sure sign they will be cooking and cleaning
> somewhat while on vacation! Face it, the only true vacation for some
> is a cruise! I do like having the fridge in the room and at least a
> microwave for snacks. You can't do that on a cruise, but you do have
> room service for only a tip!
>
>

"Tobie Gerbrandt" <chezbull@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:bOO7f.305416$1i.19329@pd7tw2no...
> Even though it costs slightly more (in maintenance and exchange fees) than
a
> cheap motel, there is the convenience of real bedroom(s) and a full
kitchen,
> and it costs far less than a resort hotel.
>
> Tobie>>>>on an Island in the Pacific

It might be a great place to stay but I would never consider a full kitchen
as being a plus on a vacation. When we're on a vacation we prefer not to
have to prepare our own meals. We could stay home & do that.

Rich.....FYI, A full kitchen doesn't just mean cooking your own meals.
It means full size frig, ice maker, glasses (cocktail,wine) & dishes,
blenders, silverware, coffee makers, microwave, dishwasher. You might
be happy trotting down the halls of Super 8 to the ice & soda machine
and drinking out of a plastic cup, or making your morning coffee in the
bathroom next to the toilet (thats been sanitized for your protection)
and dirty bath towels, But some of us do enjoy having the Options that
come with a full kitchen. Options other than cooking.

RIGHT ON, Rick! We're leaving Friday for Reno (two weeks in our other
timeshare).

Tobie>>>>on an Island in the Pacific

"RICK DAVIS" <RICKER64@> wrote in message
news:18741-43604D04-124@storefull-3316.bay....
> Rich.....FYI, A full kitchen doesn't just mean cooking your own meals.
> It means full size frig, ice maker, glasses (cocktail,wine) & dishes,
> blenders, silverware, coffee makers, microwave, dishwasher. You might
> be happy trotting down the halls of Super 8 to the ice & soda machine
> and drinking out of a plastic cup, or making your morning coffee in the
> bathroom next to the toilet (thats been sanitized for your protection)
> and dirty bath towels, But some of us do enjoy having the Options that
> come with a full kitchen. Options other than cooking.
>

"RICK DAVIS" <RICKER64@> wrote in message
news:18741-43604D04-124@storefull-3316.bay....
> Rich.....FYI, A full kitchen doesn't just mean cooking your own meals.
> It means full size frig, ice maker, glasses (cocktail,wine) & dishes,
> blenders, silverware, coffee makers, microwave, dishwasher. You might
> be happy trotting down the halls of Super 8 to the ice & soda machine
> and drinking out of a plastic cup, or making your morning coffee in the
> bathroom next to the toilet (thats been sanitized for your protection)
> and dirty bath towels, But some of us do enjoy having the Options that
> come with a full kitchen. Options other than cooking.
>
We cook & clean up for ourselves all year long so come time for a vacation
the last thing on our schedule is to cook. Having access to a full kitchen
isn't a big plus for most folks on a vacation unless it comes with a cook &
butler. I manage a condo complex with full kitchens & they're hardly ever
dirty even after a 2 week stay. People on vacation want to relax & be
served meals not cook & wash dishes. Aside from breakfast they op. to dine
in the local restaurants.

Like everyone else I like to eat out to. But sometimes its nice to just
stay in (after a long hard day on the beach) and either cook something
simple or order in. Its just nice to have the option. You folks who
don't like time shares just continue paying for your hotel/motel rooms.
And admit it your renting a room with a bath. While those of us who own
and are happy will vacation in fully furnished comfortable condos. What
we pay for a year of maint. fees you can rent a room at a resort for 2
maybe 3 nights tops. I've said it before in an earlier post - What I
pay for 3 weeks (21 days) of vacation every year will equal 4 days at a
resort hotel on either side of my Time Share. Hotel costs are only
going up higher and higher every year. We have deeded ownership
property when we leave our Time Share resort year after year....You
have a credit card bill and nothing else.

Rich, I can see why you have no need for a full kitchen. I forgot you
were the one who goes on TIme Share tours in the morning to get a free
breakfast. Its funny how you protest Time Shares yet you run to them as
often as you can. Its our yearly Maint. Fees (that go up each year
because of people like you) that pay for all the Free Breakfasts,
Cocktails and free gifts you mooch off our dime before you run back to
the Super 8 Motel to plan your next days activities and strategies for
getting more "free stuff". Of course you can't see the value in
it....You just mooch as much "free stuff" as you can off us who own.
Then complain because you have to sit thru a tour and say a full kitchen
isn't a big deal for you. I guess not since you probably base all your
meals around TIme Share tours. Here a travel tip for you... some bars
offer free food during Happy Hour Mon- Fri. In case your ever on
vacation and you need a meal and don't have a Time Share tour lined up.
You and your wife can just order a coke and two straws and eat for free.

RICK DAVIS wrote:
> Rich, I can see why you have no need for a full kitchen. I forgot you
> were the one who goes on TIme Share tours in the morning to get a free
> breakfast. Its funny how you protest Time Shares yet you run to them as
> often as you can. Its our yearly Maint. Fees (that go up each year
> because of people like you) that pay for all the Free Breakfasts,
> Cocktails and free gifts you mooch off our dime before you run back to
> the Super 8 Motel to plan your next days activities and strategies for
> getting more "free stuff". Of course you can't see the value in
> it....You just mooch as much "free stuff" as you can off us who own.
> Then complain because you have to sit thru a tour and say a full kitchen
> isn't a big deal for you. I guess not since you probably base all your
> meals around TIme Share tours. Here a travel tip for you... some bars
> offer free food during Happy Hour Mon- Fri. In case your ever on
> vacation and you need a meal and don't have a Time Share tour lined up.
> You and your wife can just order a coke and two straws and eat for free.
>

Well for one thing my maintenance fees go towards maintenance and
employee salaries.

And the cheap breakfast and other food that moochers receive isn't
all that expensive, especially down Mexico way where they prepare a pot
of refried beans and scramble some powdered eggs and call it a free
breakfast. The costs for that comes out of the developer's pockets as
the cost of doing business and is fully tax deductable. Nice deduction
too. And those so called free trips to Reno and Vega are not really
free. After all, unless you are a professional moocher and know how to
grab free food there, you will pay. Ever wonder why they only offer
free trips to Reno and Vegas and not New York, Seattle, or San
Francisco? Think about it. Ever wonder why you see in the paper at
times free flights to Reno and Vegas? The point is to get your butt
there so you can dip into your funds to play a little game or two.
Nothing is free, nothing. Not even air.

RICK DAVIS wrote:
> Rich.....FYI, A full kitchen doesn't just mean cooking your own meals.
> It means full size frig, ice maker, glasses (cocktail,wine) & dishes,
> blenders, silverware, coffee makers, microwave, dishwasher. You might
> be happy trotting down the halls of Super 8 to the ice & soda machine
> and drinking out of a plastic cup, or making your morning coffee in the
> bathroom next to the toilet (thats been sanitized for your protection)
> and dirty bath towels, But some of us do enjoy having the Options that
> come with a full kitchen. Options other than cooking.
>

You damned right we do. In Cabo, there is a Costco now and believe me,
it gets real busy on Saturday when the timeshare folks arrive for their
week. It's where you can stock up on the good stuff and they even sell
liquor. The prices are all in pesos but it's easy to figure out at 10
to 1. It's not as well stocked as the Costcos up this way, but it's
fully adequate. We eat out maybe two or three nights and the rest of
the time we eat in our condo overlooking the Arches and the city. Can't
beat home cooking and it's damn sure less expensive than eating out
where you don't know what the hell is going on in the kitchen, or if
your tamale was just scooped off the floor and put on your plate. I've
heard some horror stores out of Mexico. Now that most motels have
caught on to free morning breakfasts, the coffee pot in the bathroom
goes unused now. You mention the cleanliness of motels, but I don't
think a timeshare condo is any cleaner. We re-wash everything before we
use it, except the sheets of course, but even that probably would be a
bad idea. I love to pour a nice glass of wine, put on some nice music,
and sit out on the balcony looking at the view, oh, and Costco too down
the road (smile). That building actually spoiled the view a bit. It's
about a half mile away but you can still make it out. Where I stay in
Cabo - Missiones, there is a top resturant called Georgio's. It sits on
a cliff above a beach and has flowing waterfalls and ponds. All of the
cruise ship busses (city tour?) make a stop there so the folks can take
photos. Some even get married there. I just sit on my balcony sipping
something cold looking at the view they are looking at and then some. We
like our condo but like I said, three times and it gets boring. We
already banked our 2006 week and we will get two weeks for it. Haven't
decided yet what we will do. We have about 300 or so resorts to take
our pick of around the world, or we could opt for another cruise one
week and go someplace else the next. I'm thinking of booking a week in
St Petersburg, FL (daughter lives in Tampa) where I have some friends to
visit and fish with, and take the other week and talk my wife into
another cruise.

Before I die I want to see the Eastern Caribbean, Southern Caribbean,
and sail through the Panama Canal and up the west coast to Seattle or
Vancouver. I figure it may take five years to do all of that but if I
were single, I would have already done it.